Thursday 1 August 2013

How to Make a Killing in Bollywood *****

On to day two of the Fringe and I was still up for taking a risk or two. Not every risk this year has paid off so far, but I knew it was only a matter of time.

I managed to pick up a ticket for How to Make a Killing in Bollywood and when I found out it was in the debating hall at the Gilded Balloon, I knew it would be a pretty big show (that's the room they use for Late and Live).

As you'd expect, the show has a fair bit of Indian Bollywood dancing - which generally wouldn't be my thing, but it was all in short bursts and it was fun, light-hearted and endearing and very much in context and necessary for the show.

The story is about two fast food workers/actors who are fed up being offered acting jobs as shop owners or taxi drivers so they head to Bollywood where they hope they'll have more success.

From the beginning when they set the scene in the take away, right to the end of the show, the actors keep your attention with their energy, enthusiasm, and comic timing. The flow of the play is very easy to follow and well planned and the space they have on the bigger stage gives the actors the space they need to express themselves well.

With it being a show made by people of Asian origin, racial stereotyping was mentioned, but it was all in context and not at all uncomfortable. The dialogue was very realistic which only added to the charm of the play.

As it was only a preview, the crowd was modest but by the end of the show everyone, including me, was clapping along to the music - and that was with last night's hangover still in full swing.

I expect this show to do really well.


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